I'm trying to install the FTDI Virtual COM Port ("VCP") drivers on my Vista PC as per the XP instructions to no avail. No matter what I do, Vista just insists it cannot "start" any driver I attach to the device.

Google-ing around, I've certainly tracked down several versions of the FTCI VCP driver set... all with different installation instructions.

But each document I found referred to OEM variances in the VendorID/ProductID settings reported and suggested I check to see what the SheevaPlug happens to be sending. FTDI has conveniently hosted the "USBView" tool from Microsoft that can be used to report what your Windows PC is seeing on its various USB bus/ports.

Much to my surprise, USBView reports the following for my SheevaPlug:

In the Navigation Panel on the left, it says:

"[!] [Port6] DeviceFailedEnumeration : Unknown Device"

Clicking on this item in the Navigation Panel causes the Detail Panel on the right to report:

I was expecting, maybe, the idVendor/idProduct to not match the values in the FTDI-supplied .inf file values (0x0403 & 0x60?? respectively). What I didn't expect to see was an obviously non-responding USB device :-(.

I should also comment that - as far as lights go - only the green one closest to the power plug end of the SheevaPlug is ever lighted now. When I first plugged in the SheevaPlug, I could have sworn the other light came on brightly as well (and, indeed, may have been flashing), but I had to leave for dinner at that very moment. Upon my return, only the lone green light nearest the power plug end ever lights no matter what I do.

This is from a working plug attached to a linux computer....Vendor Id: 9e88Product Id: 9e8f...The fact that you aren't seeing a product ID or vendor ID pretty much points to a likely dead plug. Unless you just don't have the windows usb serial drivers installed properly.

Thanks for posting... and the advice. Re the "usb serial drivers", it's actually a Windows/Vista thing that it needs to see a VendorID/ProductID to know which driver to install. Since my SheevaPlug isn't reporting correctly, Windows/Vista doesn't know which driver to select to talk to it.

GlobalScale is shipping me a new device & I'll return this one. I guess its comforting to think that nobody else's arrived dead.

Just wanted to close this thread out proper. Indeed, my SheevaPlug was bad - and I'm suspectingothers SheevaPlugs that fail are due to similar defects. Mine would only light up one of the LEDs,never the 2nd one.

Just received my replacement from GlobalScale and it powered up perfectly. Installing the driversin Vista went perfect... only slightly different than the WinXP process documented.

And for any that are interested, here is the output from USBView for my new/functioning Plug:

Saw similar things myself, the way the PCB is fitted and the hole for the miniUSB was not a great fit, and the plastic case was getting int the way of the miniusb connector, making a very crappy connection. A stong wind in the wrong connection would result in the thing disconnecting (bit of an exageration there perhaps...)

Make sure that lead is pushed all the way in and making a nice connection...